A general strategy for the perfluoroalkylation of arenes and arylbromides by using arylboronate esters and [(phen)CuR(F)].

A versatile method for the synthesis of aryl perfluoroalkanes from arenes and aryl bromides is described. Substituted arenes or aryl bromides are converted in situ to an aryl boronate ester that readily undergoes perfluoroalkylation in air with [(phen)CuR(F)]. A broad range of aryl bromide substrates were perfluoroalkylated in good yield for the first time. [(phen)CuCF(3)] is now commercially available and has been prepared on 20 g scale.